Students learn about historically black colleges at college expo

Saturday

Jan 3, 2015 at 7:25 PM

Rayleigh Rozier

Jasmine Howard had a simple message.

"Dream it. Do it. Succeed."

An admissions counselor at Fort Valley State University, Howard spoke to an auditorium full of prospective college students and their parents during the Athens Area Historically Black Colleges and Universities Expo Saturday at the East Athens Community Center.

It was the first HBCU-centered event in Athens and was aimed at "promoting the truth and eliminating myths about attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities."

More than a dozen HBCUs were at the expo, including representatives from schools such as Fort Valley State, Howard University and Savannah State University. Speakers advised students on a variety of topics, including admissions process and campus life.

Jasmine Taylor, a senior English student at Fort Valley State, organized the expo. She noticed a lack of awareness about HBCUs and saw the need to promote these institutions locally. In late October she began organizing the event, which focused on debunking stereotypes about HBCUs and arming students with correct information.

"I want them to see those who are actual products of Athens, who've gone on to HCBUs, and I want them to see themselves in them. I want them to say they came form Clarke Central, they came from Cedar Shoals, they came from Oconee County High School just like me," she said. "...If they can do it, what makes me any different?"

Both university representatives and community leaders agreed the event was needed in Athens, where an expo dedicated to HBCUs was never held. Though there are several HBCUs in the area, the institutions are sometimes looked over by rising college students.

Asa Boyngon, a member of the Athens chapter of the Fort Valley State Alumni, noted the underrepresentation of HCBUs at local high schools. He attributed the absence to a lack of resources. While large schools have matching budgets to promote themselves to high schools, smaller HBCUs have fewer resources to do so.

"Most schools only put out the information they receive. They don't have time to dig up information on these smaller schools," he said.

Events such as the expo help bring attention to these institutions and present them as an option for students.

Event attendees said they hope to see the Athens Area HBCU Expo continue. Kiuna Dean, a Cedar Shoals High School graduate and now a sophomore at Fort Valley State, wishes the expo existed when she was in high school. Dean said an event such as the expo would've made her college selection process easier.

"I want to help, because I know it was hard for me. I wish I had something like this when I was a freshman or a sophomore," she said.

Taylor wants the Athens Area HBCU Expo held annually, so students may continue to learn the truth about these schools and be better informed during the college admissions process.

"There is just perpetuated incorrect information," Taylor said. "At least find out the facts. I don't want you to feel like your obligated to attend an HBCU, because it's not for everyone, but if you're going to make a decision, make it based on factual information."

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